Cost of poor blood pressure control in the UK: 62,000 unnecessary deaths per year

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Published on: September 26, 2018

F J He1, G A MacGregor

  • 1Blood Pressure Unit, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

Journal of Human Hypertension
|June 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Controlling high blood pressure to 140 mmHg systolic can significantly reduce cardiovascular disease. In the UK, this could prevent over 125,000 stroke and heart disease events annually, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension) is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and ischemic heart disease.
  • Recent meta-analyses of prospective studies provide updated data on systolic blood pressure and its impact.
  • Effective blood pressure control strategies are crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the potential reduction in stroke and ischemic heart disease events by controlling hypertension to a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg.
  • To estimate the number of deaths and major cardiovascular events that could be prevented annually in the UK.
  • To assess the broader implications for disability and healthcare costs.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from a meta-analysis of prospective studies on systolic blood pressure.
  • Calculated projected reductions in stroke and ischemic heart disease incidence based on achieving a target systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg.
  • Extrapolated UK-specific event reductions and considered survival rates for stroke and ischemic heart disease.

Main Results:

  • Achieving a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg could lead to a 28-44% reduction in stroke and a 20-35% reduction in ischemic heart disease in adults, varying by age.
  • In the UK, this target could prevent approximately 21,400 stroke deaths and 41,400 ischemic heart disease deaths annually.
  • An estimated 42,800 strokes and 82,800 ischemic heart diseases could be averted, totaling 125,600 events saved yearly in the UK, with similar potential globally.

Conclusions:

  • Controlling high blood pressure to a systolic level of 140 mmHg offers substantial public health benefits by significantly reducing stroke and ischemic heart disease.
  • The potential for preventing cardiovascular events, deaths, disability, and associated healthcare costs is immense, both in the UK and worldwide.
  • These findings underscore the importance of widespread hypertension management programs for cardiovascular disease prevention.

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